Wrench.



PATENTEDAPR. 19, 1904.

" E. HOWELL.

WRENCH. Arrmoumn P113171) JULY 2, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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INVENTOR W1 TNES rm: aim 513m wars-pins. WASNINETON o, c

- citizen of the United States, residing at Mur- UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HOWELL, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO JAMES C. SILL, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS.

WRENCH.

srncrmcncrroiv forming part of Letters Patent 110.757,?47, dated A ril 19, 1904..

Application filed July 2, 1903. Serial No. 16,09S. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD HOWELL, a.

physboro, in the county of Jackson, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto a wrench, and particularly to a structure involving a sliding jaw, with means for securing and holding the same in its adjusted position.

The invention has for an'object to provide a wrench which can be conveniently used by one hand of the operator and adjusted While so held and in which the pressure upon the handle of the wrench incident to the turning thereof will firmly hold the adjusting means in contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the several parts of the wrench by which an increased strength is secured with simplicity of construction and ease of operation,thus rendering the tool more efficient and durable inuse and economically manufactured.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the adjusting-lever, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4: l of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer ,to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A indicates a fixed jaw which is provided with a shank A, having therein a series of ratchet-teeth of any desired construc tion, while secured to this shank by means of cross-bolts A is a handle A This handle is slotted throughout its length, as shown at A in Fig. 2, to permit the securing thereof upon the shank A at any desired point. The bandle is also provided upon one face with parallel guiding-flanges A extending beyond the toothed face of the shank A, as shown in Fig. 4.

pivot is adapted to contact with a springB preferably V-shaped, as shown, and disposed 5 5- within a recess B in the movable jaw, so as to be placed under compression when the lever C ismoved away from the shank A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This lever C is provided with an engaging tooth O adapt ed to seat between the ratchet-teeth A upon the shank, and also with a finger-hold or eye O at the rear of said tooth in order that the operator holding the wrench in his hand may insert one of his fingers in the eye C, and thus 6 5 move the lever away from the teeth upon the 1 shank and the movable jaw outward into contact with the object to be grasped. It will be observed that the tooth C and the teeth A upon the shank are formed integral with the 7 respective members by which they are carried, thus securing a maximum of strength and permitting the formation of these parts by a casting operation. a

In the use of the wrench the handle is adapt- 7 5 .ed to be grasped in the hand of the operator and one of his fingers inserted in the eye of the lever, so that when pressure is applied to the handle in turning the object grasped by the wrench this lever is heldin firm contact with the shank of the fixed jaw, and thus any slipping between the holding-teeth is eifectw ally prevented, while a slight outward movement of the finger disengages the tooth upon the lever and'permits the movable jaw to be 5 slid toward or from the fixed jaw, thus providing a tool adapted to be operated entirely by a single hand and leaving the other hand of the operator free for other purposes. This advantageous function of the invention is due 9 to the location of the adjusting-lever upon the same face or side of the wrench as the projecting portions of the fixed and movable jaws. It will. also be obvious that the flanges from the toothed side of the shank effectually inclose and protect the lever against injury or lateral movement, while the manner of pivoting the lever upon the movable jaw causes the same to immediately return to its normal or locked position when the outward pressure is re leased.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration, as well as in the character of the fixed and movable jaws, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth 2. In a'wrench, a fixed jaw provided with a shank having a toothed face next the'projecting portion of said jaw, a handle secured to said shank, a movable jaw slidably mounted upon said shank and provided with an elongated pivoting and spring-receivingrecess therein, anadjustingdever provided at one end with an eye and pivoted'at its opposite end within said recess, an extended end to said lever beyond its pivot, a spring disposed within said recess to bear against the end of said lever beyond its pivot, and an engaging tooth carried by the face of said lever next the shank.

3. In a wrench, a fixed jaw provided with a shank. having a toothed face next the projecting portion of said jaw, a handle secured to said shank, a movable jaw slidably mounted upon said shank and provided with a pivoting and spring-receiving recess therein, an adjust ing-lever provided at one end with an eye and pivoted at its opposite end within said recess, a'spring disposed within said recess to bear against the end of said lever beyond its pivot, an engaging tooth carried by the face of said lever next the shank, and projecting flanges extended from said handle at opposite sides of the shank toinclose and protect the free end of said lever.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EDWARD HOWELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN Q. A. KIMMEL, J. C. SILL. 

